Overview
Betternet is a well-known VPN service that has carved a niche with its "freemium" model, offering a free tier alongside a premium subscription. In our 2026 review, we put Betternet through rigorous testing to see if it holds up against industry leaders. While it excels in simplicity and accessibility, especially for casual users, its limitations in advanced features and privacy transparency may give power users pause.
Speed & Performance
For a free VPN, Betternet delivers surprisingly decent speeds. In our tests on a 100 Mbps connection, the free version averaged around 30-40 Mbps, while the premium tier boosted that to 55-70 Mbps. This is sufficient for HD streaming and light browsing. However, latency can spike on distant servers, and the free version imposes data caps (often 500MB per day). For consistent performance, the premium plan is recommended, offering unlimited bandwidth and access to a larger server network across 70+ countries.
Security & Privacy
Betternet uses AES-256 encryption, which is industry standard. The premium version includes a kill switch and DNS leak protection, but these are absent in the free tier. A major concern is the company’s logging policy: while they claim "no logs," their privacy policy has been criticized for collecting connection timestamps and IP addresses for free users. This is a red flag for privacy advocates. Additionally, Betternet is based in the United States, a Five Eyes jurisdiction, which further undermines its privacy credentials.
Streaming (Netflix/Disney+)
Betternet struggles with streaming. During testing, the free version failed to unblock Netflix and Disney+ entirely. The premium version managed to access US Netflix on some servers but was inconsistent, often blocked within hours. Disney+ was similarly hit-or-miss. If streaming is your primary goal, consider dedicated streaming VPNs like ExpressVPN or NordVPN instead.
Final Verdict
Betternet is a decent entry-level VPN for casual users who need quick access to a VPN without complex setup. Its free tier is good for testing, but the data caps and privacy concerns make it unsuitable for serious security needs. The premium version offers better speeds and features but is outshone by competitors at a similar price point. Verdict: A temporary solution, not a long-term shield. For robust privacy and reliable streaming, look elsewhere.